MIRPURKHAS, Nov 17: A group of peasants continued hunger strike on the 30th consecutive day on Monday in protest against police failure to recover 78 of their colleagues who they claimed were in the illegal captivity of an influential landlord.

Over a dozen peasants including women Hurmi, Hakeema, Momal, Soomri, Gordhan, Tajo, Zaitoon, Natho and Popat observed token hunger strike and raised slogans against the influential landlord Thakur Nazeer Kaimkhani.

The protesters told journalists that 66 persons including women and children were released from illegal confinement of the landlord by Sanghar police while the remaining 78 including women and children were still in his captivity.

They said that police officers and other government authorities were not taking action against the influential landlord and now Sanghar police were openly supporting him.

They called upon the president and prime minister to take notice of the issue and ensure immediate release of the detained peasants.

Our Bureau adds: Thakur Nazeer Kaimkhani with another landlord Ghulam Hyder Kaimkhani refuted the allegations that he had not kidnapped haris nor held them as hostages neither had he not placed any restrictions on their movement.

Speaking at a news conference at Tando Allahyar press club on Sunday, they blamed ‘a mafia with its own vested interests’ for levelling such baseless allegations.